Automatic time interval controlling device



' AUTOMATIC TIME INTERVAL CONTROLLING DEVICE Filed July 16-, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet l w M \0 K m 6 Q 0 a M n X ,1 Q 0 o i MMIHIWHM ,5. n m w L n W 7 w W fi J w w 0 f 2 2w 2 I w u 6 76 J 4 5 x 2 n m z o 5 a n l 1.. w w .M o o I i at 6 5 a 2 2 u 5 @0412 M 8 Ru W W I IIIw w w 6 ,.w..|,.., u n A5 0 @WUJ ZN f 4 MTNESS 4 m m W Fwy w r m June 21, 1932. J uso 1,864,255

AUTOMATIC TIME INTERVAL CONTROLLING DEVICE Filed July 16, '1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 as J 38 gwwmtoz Dwi yhi JMilliASow,

dub (Meg June 21,- 1932. D. J. MILLISON AUTOMATIC TIME INTERVAL CONTROLLING DBVIC Filed July 16, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Dwqhi clmllisow,

WITNESSES Patented June 21, 1932 DWIGHT JOSEPH MILLISON, OF MAYWOOID, ILLINOIS AUTOMATIC TIME INTERVAL CONTROLLING DEVICE Application filed July 16,

This invention relates to improvements in circuit controlling apparatus, and has for its general object to provide means, automatically operable under certain predetermined conditions, to open or close one or more electric circuits after the elapse of a predetermined period of time. The apparatus const-ituting the invention is capable of general application but is especially adapted for use in interlocking controlled railway signal systems and at highway crossings to control highway trailic and warning signals.

Wore particularly, it is an object of the invention to provide a plurality of circuit controlling devices actuated from a coanmon driving mechanism and independently efiective to control a circuit or circuits either common or individual to the devices.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide for individual adjustment of the devices to variably predetermine the period of time which shall elapse between initiation and completion of the operation of each device.

Further, it is an object of the invention to provide a unitary, compact assembly of a plurality of circuit controlling devices with a common actuating mechanism to conserve space and minimize production, installation and maintenance costs.

WVith the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings, wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts in the different views Fig. 1 is a bottom plan view of a circuit controlling mechanism constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4 4: of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a central longitudinal section 1929. Serial No. 378,695.

through one of the clutch magnets of the device.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 10 designates an insulating base which is supported preferably, on a glass or other transparent casing 11 rising from a stand 12.

Mounted on top of the base 10 is a pair of electrdmagnets 13 and 1 inclusive, respec tively, of windings 15 and 16 and course 17 and 18, which latter extend downwardly through the base and are provided at their lower ends with pole pieces 19 and 20. Preferably the upper ends of the cores 17 and 18 are connected by a strap 21 to which is connected the upper end of a magnetic flux conductor 22 which also extends downwardly through the base 10 between the magnets 13 and 14k and is provided at its lower end with a pole piece 23. Preferably too, non-magnetic plates 24 and 25 are disposed against the upper and lower faces of the base 10 where the cores 17 and 18 and the flux conductor 22 extend therethrough, and the lower of these plates, 25, is provided with downwardly extending ears 26 which receive a trunnion 27, on which is supported, for rocking movement, an armature 28. This armature carries a contact spring 29 provided at its ends with contact tips for alternate engagement, during rocking movement of the so armature, with fixed contacts 30 and 31 mounted on the base 10, and the center of gravity of said armature is disposed to one side of the trunnion 27 whereby one of said contact tips is disposed normally in engagement with its related iixed contact. In addition, said contact spring has a shunt connection 'ith one end of each of the windings 15 and 16, as indicated at 32, and said windings are electrically connected at their other ends with said contacts-30 and 31, respectively as indicated at 33 and 34.

Thus, when said contacts 30 and 31 are included in a closed circuit inclusive of a source of current, as they are intended to be at predetermined times in accordance with the invention, the armature 28 will be rocked and will continue to rock so long as said circuit remains closed. In other words, assuming the spring 29 to be normally engaged with the contact 30, it is apparent that upon closing a circuit including the contacts 30 and 31, current, seeking the path of least resistance, will avoid the winding 15 and flow from the con tact 30 through the spring 29 and the shunt connection 32 to and through the winding 16, thereby energizing the magnet 14 with the result of rocking the armature 28 to a reversed position in which the spring 29 is disengaged from the contact 30 and engaged with the contact ll'hen this condition occurs the current, always seeking the path of least resistance, avoids the winding 16 and flows through the spring 29 and the shunt connection 32 to and through the winding 15, thereby energizing the magnet 13 with the result of rocking the armature 28 to its original position. Bilanifestly this rocking of the armature will continuas long as the contacts 30 and 31 are included in circuit with a source of current. Thus, desired, one or any desired plurality of additional springs 29, or equivalent contact devices, may be provided on the armature 28 for cooperation with complemental fixed contacts to open and close a circuit or circuits during rocking of said armature. Two such additional contact spings are illustrated in Fig. l of the drawings and they may be employed, for example, to actuate flashing light signals at a highway crossing.

In accordance with the present invention, rocking n- .it of armature 29 is utilized to actuate plurality of separate mechanisms or devices, preferably duplicates of one another, each of which is effective to open or close a common circuit or circuits, or one or more individually related circuits, under ertain conditions and after the elapse of a predeternili d period of time. Two of these devices, designated generally at A and A, are illustrated in the presentinstance and they are secured against the under side of the base 10 to opposite sioes of the armature 28, respectively.

Each of the crevices A, A consists of a clutch magnet inclusive of a magnetizable casing 35 housing a winding 36, and an armature 37 mounted for rotation, and for movement in the direction of its axis of rotation, into and from engagement with said casing. Vi hen current flows through the winding 36 the casing 35 is magnetized and the armature 37 is drawn against said casing and held against rotation, and when current ceases to flow through said winding the armature is released and is free to move away from and to rotate relative to said casing. Normally, that is, when no current is flowin through the winding 36, the armature 37 is maintained in spaced relation to the casing 35 by a leaf spring 38 interposed between the armature and the core of the magnet. A shaft 39 is fixed to the armature 37 and is operatively connected with a movable switch arm 40 which is provided with a contact 40 for cooperation with a complemental fixed contact 41, these contacts being normally disengaged from one another and being adapted for engagement with one another by longitudinal movement of the shaft 39 when the armature 37 is drawn against the casing 35.

Fixed to the shaft 39 is a spur gear 42, while loose on said shaft, so as to be rotatable with respect thereto, is aratchet wheel 43 having rigid therewith a spur pinion 44. Also loose on the shaft 39 is an arm 45 which has a pivoted pawl 46 for cooperation with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 43 and which arm 45 is slotted at its outer end to receive a pin 47 on the end of an arm 48 carried by the armature 28. Thus, when the armature 28 is rocked, the arm 45 is oscillated and the wheel 43, with its spur pinion 44, is rotated step-by-step in a single direction on the shaft 39, a holding dog 49 being provided for cooperation with the wheel 43 to prevent reverse rotation thereof.

A frame 50 is mounted on the shaft 39 for rotation with respect thereto and in this frame is j ournaled a shaft 51 which has fixed thereto a spur gear 52 and a spur pinion 53, the former of which is disposed in mesh with the spur pinion 44 and the latter of which is disposed in mesh with the spur gear 42. Thus, when the spur gear 42 is held against rotation by reason of the armature 37 being drawn against the casing 35, rocking of the armature 28 will result in planetary movement of the spur pinion 53 about the spur gear 42 with consequent rotation of the frame 50 with respect to the shaft 39, the arrangement being such that the free end portion of said frame will be elevated. On the other hand, when the spur gear 42 is released, the frame 50 obviously will drop by gravity to its original or normal position in which a stop 54 on the frame 50 rests upon a spring contact blade 55 and holds same in engagement with a contact finger 56. The blade 55 constitutes a stop to limit downward movement of the frame 50 and the weight of said frame is suflicient to hold said contact spring normally engaged with the contact finger 56. However, the tendency of the contact blade 55 is to spring upwardly away from contact finger 56 and this occurs when the stop 54 is lifted off of the blade 55 by elevation of the frame 50 in the manner previously stated. 7

The contact blade 55 and the contact finger 56 are mounted on an insulating block 57 which is pivoted as indicated at 58 to a bracket 59 depending from the base 10. The center of gravity of this block is located to the side of the pivot 58 nearestsaid contact blade and finger so that the tendency of said blade and finger is to fall by gravity to a pendant position with respect to the pivot 58. This is prevented, however, by an adjustable screw iii stop 60 depending from the base 10 and engaged by an arm 61 rigid with the block 57. By adjusting said screw stopthe contact blade 55 maybe raised or lowered thus to vary the position at which the frame will be halted in its downward movement under the influence of gravity.

Above the spring contact blade is disposed a second spring contact blade 62, which is mounted on a bracket 63 depending from the base 10. This blade 62 carries a contact 64 which is normally spaced from a complemental fixed contact 65 mounted on the base 10 and said blade is disposed in the path of movement of the stop 54 so as to be engaged and lifted by said stop during upward movement of the frame 50 to bring the contact 64 into engagement with the contact 65.

As will hereinafter appear, engagement of the contacts 64, 65 deenergizes the clutch magnet and permits the frame 50 to fall to its normal position with the stop 54 resting on the spring contact arm 55. Thus it is manifest that the range of movement of the frame 50 is determined by the spacement of the spring contact arms 55 and 62 from one another and that such spacement may be varied by adjustment of the screw stop 60. It follows, therefore, assuming the armature 28 to have a constant speed of rocking movement, that the greater the distance between the contact arms 55 and 62, the longer it will require the stop 54 to move from the arm 55 and engage the arm 62. If desired, any suitable means may be provided to vary the rate of rocking movement of the armature 28 to increase or decrease the period of time re quired for the frame 50 to be elevated through any given angle. In any event, the rate of rocking movement of the armature 28 may be predetermined, and in order to facilitate adjustment of the screw stop 60 so that a predetermined period of time will elapse between initiation of upward movement of the frame 50 and engagement of the stop 54 with the spring contact arm 62, a calibrated bracket arm 66 is disposed concentrically with respect to the shaft 39 and a pointer 67 is provided on the frame 50 for travel over said bracket For a given speed of rocking movement of the armature 28 the arm 66 may be marked in seconds to designate the number of seconds required for the frame 50 to be elevated through an arc suflicient to engage I the contact 64 with the contact 65.

In lieu of or in addition to the contact 64, the spring arm 62 may be provided with a contact 68 normally engaged with a complemental fixed contact 69 so that upon elevation of the arm 62 these contacts will be separated to break a circuit for deenergizing the clutch magnet or for any other purpose. In the present instance the switch constituted by the contacts 68, 69 is not used.

From the foregoing it is apparent that either or both of the circuit controlling devices A, A may be caused to function upon rocking movement being imparted to the armature 28 and that said devices may be individually adjusted to vary the interval of time required for changing the status of a circuit or circuits controlled by the respective devices.

Under certain conditions it may be desirable to hold the frame 50 in its uppermost position while the armature 28 continues to oscillate. For accomplishing this purpose, the arm 66 of each device A, A has pivoted thereto an arm 66, a free end portion 66 of which normally underlies the holding dog 46 in slight spaced relation thereto so as not to interfere with its operation. This arm 66 is disposed in the path of travel of the stop 54 so that when the frame 50 reaches an uppermost position, said stop engages with and lifts the arm 66 causing the free end portion 66 thereof to lift the dog 46 so that continued oscillation of the arm 45 is ineffective to impart further rotation to the wheel 43. Thus it is apparent thatthe two devices A, A may operate simultaneously or either one may initiate or complete itsimovement before the other.

ithout further description it is thought that the features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and it will of course be understood that changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be re sorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention and scope of the app-sided claims.

I claim 1. In mechanism of the class described, an automatic time interval controlling device comprising an electro-magnet, a rotatable and axially movable armature adapted to be moved axially and held against rotation by said electro-magnetwhen same is energized, and means cooperating with said armature when the same is held against rotation to reverse the condition of a circuit or circuits after the elapse of a predetermined period of time.

2. In mechanism of the class described, an automatic time interval controlling device comprising an electromagnet, a rotatable and axially movable armature adapted to be moved axially and held against rotation by said electro-magnet when same is energized, and means cooperating with said armature when the same is held against rotation to reverse the condition of a circuit or circuits after the elapse of a predetermined period of time, said means being rotatable with said armature to a position to restore said circuit or circuits to normal condition when said electromagnet is deenergized.

3. In mechanism of the class described, an automatic time interval controlling device comprising an electromagnet, av rotatable and axially movable armature adapted to be moved axially and held against rotation by said electromagnet when same is energizer, means cooperating with said armature when the same is held against rotation to reverse the condition of a circuit or circuits after the elapse of a predetermined period of time, and means whereby reversing the condition of said circuit or circuits deenergizcs said electromagnet, said first mentioned means being rotatable with said armature under the influence of gravity LO a position to restore said circuit or circuits to normal condition when said electro magnet is deenergized.

i. In mechanism of the class described, an automatic time interval controlling device comprising an electromagnet, a. rotatable and axially movable armature adapted to be moved axially and held against rotation by said electromagnet when said magnet is energized, a gear rigid with said armature, and means cooperating with said gear when said armature is held against rotation to reverse the condition of a circuit or circuits after the elapse or" a predetermined period of time.

5. In mechanism of the class described, an automatic time interval controlling device comprising an electromagnet, a rotatable axially movable armature normally spaced from the said electromagnet and adapted when the latter is energized to be moved axially into engagement therewith and to be held thereby against rotation, means cooperating with said armature when same is held against rotation to reverse the condition of a circuit after the elapse of a predetermined period of time, a switch, and a connection between said armature and said switch whereby axial movement of said armature is efi'ective to reverse the condition of said switch.

6. In mechanism of the class described, a switch, an automatic time interval controlling device inclusive of an element having a normal position and adapted to be moved from said position during the elapse of a predetermined period of time to a position to actuate said switch, means for so moving said element, means for holding said element in a switch actuating position during continued operation of said moving means, and means whereby said element is automatically returned to normal position upon release of said holding means.

7. In mechanism of the class described, a switch, an automatic time interval controlling device inclusive of an element having a normal position and adapted to be moved upwardly from said position during the elapse of a predetermined period of time to aposition to actuate said switch, means for moving said element upwardly to such actuating position, and means for holding said element in switch actuating position during continued operation of said moving means, said element being mounted to gravitate to normal position upon release of said holding means.

8. In mechanism of the class described, a switch, an automatic time interval controlling device inclusive of an element having a normal position and adapted to be moved from said position during the elapse of a predetermined period of time to a. position to actuate said switch, a pawl and ratchet mechanism for so moving. said element, means to disengage the pawl from the ratchet when said element reaches the switch actuating position, means to hold said element in switch actuating position upon disengagement of said pawl, and means whereby said element is adapted to return automatically to normal position upon release of said holding means.

9. In mechanism of the class described, a pair of vertically spaced switches each having a normal position, a member resting normally on the lower switch and by its weight holding said switch in a position reversed from its normal position, means operable to lift said member on of the lower switch to permit said switch to assume its normal position and to continue lifting of said member at a predetermined rate of speed to a position to actuate the upper switch, and means mounting one of said switches for adjustment to ward and away from the other to variably predetermine the time interval elapsing between return of the lower switch to its normal position and actuation of the upper switch.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

DWVIGHT JOSEPH MILLISON. 

